HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Bobby Cox was a 32-year-old manager in Syracuse, his creaky knees having ended his brief career as a major league third baseman.

Coming into April 8, 1974, he and Hank Aaron had combined for 723 home runs - nine of those by Cox.

Forty years ago, he appreciated the significance of what happened that night in Atlanta. It's an even greater appreciation now that he and Aaron became co-workers and have been synonymous with Atlanta Braves baseball.

"I get goose bumps just now talking about it," Cox said recently when the Braves played an exhibition at Rome, Ga.

Tonight the Braves will honor Aaron and celebrate his 715th home run he hit 40 years ago, the one that put him past Babe Ruth as the all-time home run leader.

"It's pretty darn special," said Cox, the Braves' former manager who'll join Aaron in the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer. "Hank's always been a great guy.

Aaron would finish with 733 homers as a Brave and 755 for his career, spending his last two seasons with the Brewers. The remarkable thing about his home-run hitting is that he never hit more than 47 in a single season. He was never the pure slugger of the Bonds/McGwire ilk. He is only 36th all-time in home runs per at-bat (one for every 16.4).

Aaron's career was one of consistency, productivity and versatility.

He remains first in total bases (6,856), RBI (2,297), second in at-bats, third in games-played (3,298) and hits (3,771), fourth in runs scored (2,174), seventh in WAR (wins above replacement) and tenth in doubles (624).